I believe that Steampunk is more than just brass and watchparts. It's finding a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetic pleasing yet still punkish way. It's living a life that looks old-fashioned, yet speaks to the future. It's taking the detritus of our modern technological society and remaking it into useful things. Join me as I search for items for my house that combine the scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and imagined future.

Monday, January 26, 2009

There are a handful of websites, catalogs, and stores that I like to browse for steampunk home items. One of the best is The Sundance Catalog, Robert Redford's lifestyle catalog.

I like this description of the catalog by Redford:"To us, Sundance is and always will be a dream. What you see, smell, taste and feel here is a dream being carefully nurtured. "

The inventory turns over within a year, so you'll find things mentioned in the Kaboodle list that aren't available anymore, but they replenish it with plenty of wonderful new things. Here's a sampling of what's currently available.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Tammy was so kind to share some pics of her not-just-steampunk but The Steampunk Home inspired living room.

I ended up getting the coffee table from Sundance based on your kaboodle list. We're sort of going for steampunk in a temp. rental so we haven't painted the walls. I got the skull pillows from etsy, they are burlap and really comfortable. Had the rug and the pictures on the wall are framed vintage Tango sheet music covers from Buenos Aires. The lamp is another Sundance purchase, although I sort of wish that we had look for a 'real' antique. Couch is Restoration Hardware.

Good job, Tammy! I love the bits of red in the rug and the couch. The whole room has a bit of an airship pirate vibe to it -- the skull and crossbones pillows, the striped pillow, the steamer trunk (but in metal, nothing too old fashioned for airships, y'know), and the spotlight for highlighting whatever-it-is-you-chase as an airship pirate.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Reader Beith Burton thought we might be interested in the designs of Retropolis and The Future That Never Was -- it's a bit 1950s pulp science fiction in feel, but some of the designs tickled my fancy.

The designs are available as the ubiquitous T-shirt, but some are also available in poster form. (When will these print-on-demand places start offering plates? I'm ready for a collection of independent steampunk design dessert plates...)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Eight, if you're Palmer Earley, president and designer of Architects and Heroes. Here's his new Bilardo: It's 55" wide, 41" tall and has an up and down movement of about 14". It's hand made of oil rubbed brass, with cloth covered wire and hand cast pulley wheels.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I walked toward theJefferson Market Library, and at the corner I was amazed to see a display of...Wunderkammer! Speak of the Devil; Wunder indeed! My interest in this sort of work was stimulated by Steampunk research, wherein I discovered many examples of shadow box art incorporating science and technology.

Turns out that the Ansonia Pharmacy was displaying an exhibit of works by the artist Robbii Wessen. An amazing artist whose works combine elements from nature with technical and industrial findings, resulting in a lovely blend of form, color and texture. I can not do them justice with words, so here are some pictures I took:

The exhibit is called Foundlings, and is at 6th Avenue and 10th St. until Jan. 27.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Lit Vamp was kind enough to point out this blik decal. It's based on a Threadless T-Shirt design called Time Fades by Samuel Lara. I love how it's done in white against a dark wall in the picture above, but it also comes in black and grey. I think it would be perfect for a dorm room or a rented apartment where you want some non-permanent style.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

How would you create a flexible steampunk set that needs to cover the entire world? Here's the one the Laguna Playhouse put together for it's production of Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, playing January 6 -- Febuary 8th.From the press release:Director Michael Butler has laced the production’s ambiance with a playful nod to the “steampunk” genre of science fiction. As Metro Silicon Valley points out, “one of the most extraordinary aspects of the production is how brilliantly the stage is utilized…the production is styled in the opulent esthetic of steampunk, a growing retro-futuristic movement that combines Victorian finery with modern technology. The set has the distinct feel of being located inside a giant ticking watch, complete with a huge manually revolving central stage that is sporadically set into motion by stagehands for fast, dramatic effect.”